Waiting backstage, I stood in stunned silence as the crowd gathered to enjoy the showcase.
All those people… are here for our performance?
There were a lot of fans. No—a hell of a lot. From the moment the showcase announcement went up, the response had been explosive. And now, the live hall was packed to the brim.
All the members, except me, were buzzing with excitement more than nerves.
Their flushed cheeks and hands trembling with anticipation made it obvious just how much they’d been looking forward to this comeback.
Ra Ho-yeon took a deep breath.
“Can’t believe this day actually came.”
Seo Yoon-chae gave a crooked smile.
“A stage not followed by indifference or controversy, but one we’ve prepared for with everything we’ve got—just for us?”
“Right. You look like you’re about to explode, Yoon-chae.”
Ra Ho-yeon had a point. Seo Yoon-chae hadn’t been able to sit still for a second, restlessly pacing the waiting room.
“I’m just checking the stage positions. You know, rehearsal.”
It was a painfully obvious lie. But no one, not even Ra Ho-yeon, bothered calling him out on it.
Just then, a staff member came in and gave us a final heads-up.
“Secreti members, please do your final outfit and mic checks! It’s almost time to go on stage!”
As the staff exited, the company CEO burst in with fire in her eyes.
Clenching both fists, she rallied us with all her might.
“You all do know this album was made by burning through both cash and soul, right?”
“Yes, ma’am!”
“Give it everything you’ve got. Make it a day the fans who came to see Secreti’s stage will never forget. That’s how you show respect to the people who waited for you.”
“Understood!”
A jolt of indescribable electricity shot through my whole body.
The lyrics, the melody, the choreography—I had memorized every part to the point I could perform it in my sleep. That was thanks to the drill-sergeant-level choreographer and two very persistent members.
It had been brutal. But the moment I stepped onto that stage, every painful memory vanished.
Camera flashes sparkled like stardust, official lightsticks glowed in every direction, and the cheers of the crowd lit up the darkness.
WaaAAAAAAAH—!
Even through my in-ear monitors, the screaming fans drowned out the opening of our title track, reducing it to a mosquito’s buzz.
But my body, sharpened by endless rehearsals, found its place instinctively.
And in that moment, everything else—the inner voice whispering just follow the plan—faded away.
I surrendered to the music.
It was… surreal.
***
The stage was over before I even realized it.
Even though we performed several songs, it felt like someone had fast-forwarded time.
As we stood there, breathless and dazed, the fans screamed back at us with piercing cheers.
“Encore!”
“Damn, that stage was crazy!”
“Yu-jin, look over here!”
Only then did I notice the glowing fan slogans bobbing through the crowd.
They’re happy…
The fans. And right beside me, the members.
They were glowing brighter than the lights, faces full of pure joy and exhilaration.
“Thank you, everyone! Always save you! We’ve been Secreti. Thank you so much!”
I still couldn’t tell if any of this was real.
Of course, once we got hit with the endless string of music show schedules, that confusion vanished. Reality hit hard.
…Still, it hadn’t been a bad experience.
***
[Entertainment Gossip – Celebrity Chat Category]
Anyone here see Secreti’s comeback stage?
⤷ They charged in like they had a sword in hand, seriously?!
⤷ I went to the showcase! As a Guardian (fandom name), I’m telling you, this mini album slayed. The company rep literally sold her car and watch to fund it—it reeked of high-budget ambition lol
They had two title tracks and neither one missed.
It was a dual-concept album—first-love princes who protect their Guardians, and tragic bodyguard warriors who can’t let go of the ones they love… The outfits, the vocals, everything was chef’s kiss. As a first-gen Guardian, I was straight-up sobbing.
⤷ Wait, wasn’t Yeon Yu-jin still a problem?
⤷ That’s old news, lol. Yu-jin totally carried this time—he and Yoon-chae took all the killing parts in the title tracks.
⤷ Fr??
⤷ The MV is insane too. Stream it ASAP.
The MVs for Chasing the Stars to You and Hongmaehwa are heartbreak in motion. I swear they’re part of the same lore…
Chasing the Stars to You is like the past life. Hongmaehwa is the next.
In their past lives, they couldn’t be together. And in this one, even though he still loves her, she loves someone else. So instead of holding on, he lets her go—and becomes the Hongmaehwa tree that watches over her from afar… FML…
⤷ Guardian here, clutching my pillow and sobbing
⤷ Literal poison but tastes so good I’m chugging it and crying
⤷ This is my official tears-on-command trigger
⤷ How did that MV lead NOT choose our boys??? Like, look at that beauty and talent! And she still went for someone else?? UNREAL.
⤷ Planting Hongmaehwa in my backyard starting today
⤷ Secreti: Cry! Me: T_T YES SIR!
***
Secreti’s first mini album blew up.
They’d never once touched the Top 10 before—but now they were on it. The MV views shot past 10 million, dragging attention and buzz along with them.
It looked like the storyline Tae-boem worked so hard to craft had hit home.
While we were heading to the next schedule, riding in the van with just the members, Tae-boem kept twitching his lips while scrolling through the positive reactions.
He puffed up proudly.
“The more depth a story has, the more fun people have analyzing it. That’s just how it is.”
I didn’t really get what he meant, so I just cheered him on and told him to keep doing his thing.
Even a quick MV-related search online would bring up walls of interpretation posts.
Chasing the Stars to You had a bubbly, sweet vibe in its song and visuals, but the lyrics told a bittersweet tale of a prince wishing happiness for the one he loves—after heartbreak.
Hongmaehwa, on the other hand, was drenched in melancholy. The lyrics brimmed with longing for a lost love.
The speaker in Hongmaehwa was also the reincarnated prince, and instead of selfishly clinging to her, he let her go—hoping she’d be happy in this life, even if it meant dying alone and becoming a Hongmaehwa blossom buried in the snow.
The symbolism was obvious and everywhere in the MV, which made it easy for fans to fall apart in tears.
“I mean… I listened, but I still don’t get it.”
Seo Yoon-chae clicked his tongue.
“Poor soul. You just don’t understand the beauty of love.”
“What? You saying I’m dumb now? I do understand love, thank you very much. Especially brotherly love. I’d say I know it better than any of you.”
When I fired back, all the members’ eyes widened in surprise, then quickly turned to pity.
“…Oh dear.”
“So you died being single your whole life, huh.”
“Well, yeah. Brotherhood is a kind of love, I guess. Tragic, though.”
Ra Ho-yeon, Shin Tae-boem, and Seo Yoon-chae all started teasing me.
“You little shits—”
Sure, I died being single. But there are some wounds you just don’t poke.
Being single your whole life? That’s one of them.
“Alright then. You ever felt the wrath of a lifelong single before?”
“Gaaah!”
I had them all in headlocks, wringing surrender out of their traitorous mouths, when Cha Si-yoon tilted his head.
“Hmm? But, hyungs, if it was just brotherly love… What about that partner you mentioned? What was his name again? Hyun Je-ha?”
His innocent question knocked the wind right out of me.
Seo Yoon-chae had already slipped away, but I was too stunned to chase him.
“W-What are you even talking about? Je-ha and I were just comrades—close friends, nothing more…”
“But he still recognized you after you came back in a totally different body. He secretly came to see you over and over. And above all… He couldn’t forget you for twenty years. If that’s not love, what is?”
What does the youngest even know to be talking like that…
“W-Whatever! That’s not it! Je-ha’s just… He’s just a caring guy! He probably just felt guilty—losing me like that…”
“Even so, you really think someone would dedicate their entire life to chasing a dead person just out of guilt?”
“……”
I went quiet, and so did the rest of the van.
The others didn’t say a word—but the way their eyes darted around said plenty.
[Hit the bullseye, huh?]
Even Potato smirked and poked my head.
Je-ha… feels that way about me?
Right as a wave of confusion was about to crash over me, our manager hyung came back to the van.
“Ah, sorry I took so long! Let’s head to the next shoot, guys.”
“Y-Yeah…”
Focus. Get it together.
This schedule was important.
One of the three suspects Je-ha and Baekho Unit identified as possible culprits—was going to be there today.
